As a youngster, NHL rookie of the year Jeff Skinner won a bronze medal at the Canadian junior figure skating championships.

Toronto-native Jeff Skinner enjoyed a dream season his first year in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and playing in the All-Star Game.

Published on Tue Aug 16 2011

As a youngster, NHL all-star and 2011 rookie of the year Jeff Skinner won a bronze medal at the Canadian junior figure skating championships.

Strangely, going into the NHL draft, his skating ability was considered an issue.

The 19-year-old Toronto-born centre played most of his minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, followed by two years with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers before being drafted seventh overall last year by the Carolina Hurricanes.

He is the third GTHL graduate to win the Calder Trophy as top rookie. Ken Dryden and Steve Vickers won it in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

Skinner doesn’t forget his roots. He was one of the pros in the GTHL golf tournament on Monday, kicking off a series of events celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Next to his parents, the 5-foot-11, 197-pound sniper says that Rick Vaive and Billy Bowler, who both coached him as a 15-year-old with the Toronto Young Nats, as well as Kevin Donoghue and Kitchener Rangers coach Steven Spott have had an impact on his career.

Genes play a definite role in Skinner’s success. Both his parents, Elisabeth and Andy Skinner, are lawyers and athletes of the year in law school. He has five siblings all blessed athletically and academically which created a competitive edge needed to thrive in a household that was involved in swimming, figure skating, power skating, gymnastics, piano lessons, dance, phonics, mini-chef sessions, as well as acting. Jeff recalls his role in the movie Death to Smoochy, starring Danny DeVito, Robin Williams and Edward Norton as “pretty cool.”

“When I saw where he was ranked (47th in mid-season), I was shocked,” said Vaive, the former Maple Leaf captain. “He lit it up in Kitchener. He’s a great skater with phenomenal balance. His skating didn’t look pretty, but you could see he was a natural goal scorer.”

One report said, “His skating ability and first step acceleration will need to come a long way if he is to succeed in the NHL.” While another suggested, “He’s Marian Gaborik without the elite skating ability” and a third pointed out, “Defence and skating could be a problem in the pros.”

Skinner explains. “I am not the fastest skater and don’t look like I have the quicker shorter stride of a smaller player.

“Figure skating has given me a unique side advantage,” he believes, recalling changing skates in the car going from figure skating to hockey. “Being on my skates that much has made me very comfortable on the ice.”

Bowler calls him “an extremely bright kid.”

“His drive and determination set him apart,” Bowler said. “He has insight and ability to process and utilize immediately what you have taught him. I’m around a lot of hockey players and guys like him don’t come around very often.’

Spott calls him the “purest goal scorer” he’s had in 15 years.

“When people see his breakaway speed, that eliminated any (fears) of his skating ability,” Spott said. “It is his tenacity and strength on the puck. He was first in the weight room and last off the ice. No one worked harder than Jeff. ”

Carolina coach Paul Maurice talks of “his balance, his ability to move around, to change directions, to get out of (difficult) places and his edge control. He does unusual things with his skates. It’s his ability to get out of the way.”

Dan Cameron spotted Skinner’s potential as an 8-years-old and recruited him for the Toronto Junior Canadiens.

“Jeff could spin on the ice in his hockey skates and people liked to stop and watch him,” Cameron remembered.

His dad calls him “humble, reserved, introspective and very competitive.”

“Jeff never said he wanted to be a hockey player,” Andy Skinner said. “He was always a good student. We put emphasis on education and arranged summer courses for him. He graduated high school with his peers and is taking on-line university courses.”

Jeff remembers as a kid, “it was all about fun.”

“My parents were huge in my life ... my biggest fans,” he said. “They’ve done so much for me ... sacrificed everything. The biggest adjustment for me in the NHL was living away from home. My roommate, Justin Peters, was a big help and showed me the ropes. ”

Skinner isn’t resting on his laurels. He spent this summer working out two hours a day, six times a week, plus on-ice skills development two or three times a week and yoga while preparing for next season.

And Maurice is looking forward to his return.

“It is special to come into the NHL and score 30-plus goals,” Maurice said. “It usually takes three, four or even five years to develop. Everyone down here has fallen in love with him. He is grounded and he looks like he’s having fun.”

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